The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-04-02
PARNELL'S GREAT SPEECH
In THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
LAST NIGHT,
Appealing In the Name Of Justice
aud Humanity for the Mis-
cradle Tenantry
OF DOWN TRODDEN IRELAND,
AWAKENS ADMIRATION,
Even Among the Opposition Members
-Balfour's Bill PuIVeriEed
by His ElOquence.

LONDON, April LIN the House Of
Common last night W. H. Smith,
tirtt Lord Of the Treasury, suggested
| II the Irish crimes bill be read ths
first time tonight tbs second reading
could bs taken up Tuesday; then
there would be au Interval Of a week
between the sfcond reading and going
into committee. 1t was the impers-
tive duy Of the government to Insist
that the House come to an early deoi-
sion on the principal point Of the
bill. Referring to the land bill, he
said it Is of vital importance to the
government to use every effort to
make the measure law.
Pdrnell, rising to resume the de
bate on the crimes bill, was loudly
cheered. He said that with the pro-
duction Of the land bill yesterday Par
Lament had been put in possession OF
the complete plan of the govern
ment in all its nskedness and disbon-
esty. The land bill revealed the ex-
tent of the plot and the gravity Of the
conspiracy through which the Con.
servatives and Liberal. Unionists in
tended to try to coerce the tenants in
Ireland into the payment OF impossi-
bic rente, or compel them to purchase
their landlords interests at exhoroi.
tant rates. If the House should ever
give the government power to thus
coerce the people the result would
most certainly be wholesale repudia-
ton, involving an immense loss to
British taxpayers "Hear! Hearl"1
The government were pressing on
coercion with indecent haste. They
refused to cary out the recommenda-
tions OF the Land Comm fsiop. II the
coercion bill passed the last de.
fence of the tenants against
wholesale robbery would be re-
moved. In Justly regulated land
purchase lay the only hope Of settling
the land question. If done at fsir
price and in the absence of coercion
the Irish tenants would fulfill their OBJ
legations to the last penny. He went
on to complain Of the absence of off
cial information concerning crime in
Ireland. The government was given
the opinion Of four judges, who
thought crime was seriously increas.
ing. He could quote twelve judges to
show the absence of serious crime.
As to alleged failures of juries |
to convict, cases had been |
grossly exaggerated. They were
utterly insufficient grounds for
destroying the liberties OF Ireland.
The National Lesgue had been called |
tyrannical, but there was no proof
that any pressure had been put on
any one to join the League. 1t is a
purely national body--the outcome of |
genuine popular feeling, and no branch
of the League has ever been known
to exercise force in order to i'm. |
press members. Proceeding to dis. |
cuss the provisions of the bill, Mr..
Parnell contended the powers given
magistrates would enable them to
send political opponents to prison for
ak mouths; TO plank bed and prison
diet. No part Of the provisions of the
coercion acts ever excited 80 much dis
trust Of Ecgiish justice as the propo-
cal of the change of venue and trials
OF 1rishmen before special English
juries, Ths proposal meant a reign of
judicial murder. 1t meant all hopes
Of better times which seemed
dawning upon Ireland would disap-
pear. That the system OF subo rdina-
tion of Witnesses, wholesale perjury
before partisan ju1ies, would prevail,
and sending innocent persons to the
scaffold and convict's cell. What
would be the state of society that
would arise under this reign Of terror?
Secret tocieties would spring up, fosl-
cred by the sufferiDgs OF tho OPP
pressed nstion, and those who had
been persistent in couDseling the
people to observe patience and
moderation might counsel In vain, but
he would still counsel them to submit
to injustice rather than to Tetaliate or
do anything that might drive Glad.
stone from their side, or increase his
difficulties, or place him in false p1-
sition with the Liberals. Their battle
i5 now won in Ireland. CheeTsl.
There might be some suffering and
much tyrany yet to be endured, but
that could be as nothing compared with
what the Irish people had gone
through in the past. The little wait
;cS end eternity proposed for this bill
would disappear before the brighter
time, when Gladstone would be
able to appeal once more to the sense
of justice OF the people Of Great
Britain, and receive full power to do
right to Ireland. [Cheers, The party
which alone could gain by violence
by the people Of Ireland going beyond
the law was the present government.
That was the reason this bill has been
brought forward. It's object was to
strengthen the governments own mis-
ersble position. Let not the people
Of Ireland fall into the tolls thus set
for them. He greatly feared the re.
suit Of the bill, but he would not
cease to tell them their situation
was entirely different from that
Of five years ago, and that
Tor them victory was certain. The
people of Ireland would again bear
the straw with patience. Gladstone
would not 6nd his action hampsred
Or his hands suilied in the great and
glorious work he had undertaken.
Cheers. He concluded by moving
the House resolve itself into com
mittee to consider the state Of Ireland.
Harrington, amid great laughter,
read letters from the Knight OF
Kerry, Lord Monck and Others,
applying On behalf Of friends and rsla-
lives for stipendiary magistrateshipE
IN Ireland. When ssked where he
obtained the letters he repked that he
bought them at auction. This answer
was received with shouts OF laughter.
Harrington proceeded to explain the
principal qualifications urged in behalf
# applicsnts-poverty and large fam
lies. On being interrupted with cries
" "divide," the speaker said he was ,
lot surprised at the impatience shown
y the gentlemen opposite upou the
exposure Of these unpalatsble fNts,
,ut he had right to show the chSr- ]
Icters of the men at whose mercy it |
vas p opposed 10 place the liberties Of
-rishmen.
Ooneybeare continued the discussion Q
mid cries OF "divide." {
I. B. OConnor moved to adjourn s
he debate.
Gladstone, in supporting the motion,